At the heart of the scenic and expansive landscape in Nanyuki, Laikipia County seats the Ol Jogi Ranch that comprises of over 58,000 acres of the Laikipia Plateau.
Named after a native shrub, Ol Jogi Ranch was previously the private home and wildlife sanctuary for the Wildenstein family for over 35 years before it was opened to members of the public.
What’s enchanting about the place is the wildlife: incredible density and diversity, including migrating elephants, 15% of the world’s remaining Grevy’s zebra population, and more than 40 of the 790 black rhinos that remain in East Africa.
Guests holidaying at the ranch get to experience an unusual sense of retreat since one can walk for kilometers without spotting fellow guests and land cruisers like in many parks and conservancies.
For a week, 14 people can retreat at the conservancy at the cost of $210, 000. Loosely translated, an individual will pay Ksh1.6 million for a week and roughly Ksh200, 000 a night.
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In an interview with Forbes magazine, Alec Wildenstein who took over the managing of the ranch from his father in 2008 said, “Here you don't feel like a tourist. There is no other place in Africa where you can have an entire 60,000-acre wildlife conservancy entirely to yourself. You will never see another tourist, never see another minivan."
"He means not seeing ten Land Cruisers parked around a small herd of elephants, as you do in many parks and conservancies, and not having to follow rules, aside from the Ol Jogi rangers' careful precautions about night drives, hikes, and even horseback safaris for guests who know what they're doing," Forbes reported.
The conservancy spans from the Ewaso and Nanyuki rivers in the west to the Lolldaiga Mountains in the east.
The main house and freestanding cottages were decorated by Alec's parents, who had a flair for the flamboyant.
"The house was built for a generation that was much more extravagant than I am," Alec said adding that he spends half a year managing the conservancy.
Most of the guest rooms have elaborate stained-glass windows with wildlife images, handcrafted furniture, enough antique treasures to fill an auction catalog, and separate his-and-hers dressing rooms and bathrooms, both with downpour-force rain showers and Jacuzzi tubs.
The trappings of luxury are certainly there, but nothing seems forced or theatrical it wasn't art-directed for guests but simply what was in the family's home.
Here are photos of Ol Jogi Ranch:
